Hockey Canada likes to extend invites to veterans who have played well in the past, so Dan Boyle could get an invite. I think the top four pairings are the favourites to make the team, but if any of those guys get hurt of struggle in the first half of the season, one of the bottom eight guys could easily take their spot.

FORWARDS:

Eric Staal-Sidney Crosby-Steven Stamkos

Rick Nash-Jonathan Toews- Claude Giroux

John Tavares-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry

Logan Couture-Patrice Bergeron-Milan Lucic

Taylor Hall-Jordan Staal-Andrew Ladd

James Neal-Patrick Sharp-Jordan Eberle

Chris Kunitz-Matt Duchene-Brad Marchand

Jamie Benn-Mike Richards-Marty St.Louis

Joe Thornton

Some forwards like Patrick Marleau and Jarome Iginla could get an invite based on past contributions, but I don't see them having a realistic shot to make the team.

Mike Babcock and his coaching staff will have some extremely difficult decisions amongst the forwards. You will notice I only picked 12 forwards, because I believe Hall, Eberle, Jordan Stall, James Neal, Andrew Ladd and Patrick Sharp and all have a great shot of making the team.

If I had to pick one of them, I believe the coaches might lean towards Ladd due to age, size and his ability to kill penalties.

Here is the actual list of who was invited

Shannon was correct that Holtby got the nod over Cam Ward, and Luongo is the only goalie who was invited to the 2010 camp.

D-MEN

Shea Weber-Drew Doughty

Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook

P.K Subban- Alex Pietrangelo

Kris Letang-Marc Staal

Jay Bouwmeester- Dan Boyle

Mike Green- Karl Alzner

Dan Hamhuis-Marc Methot

Dion Phaneuf-Travis Hamonic

Marc-Edouard Vlasic

No major surprises here, although it is interesting to note that Tyler Myers isn't on the list. I had 13 of the 17, but it is nice to see they wanted to give some younger guys a shot. Alzner, Hamonic and Vlasic are all solid, but I suspect the seven D-men who make the roster will come from the top-four pairings above.

FORWARDS:

Eric Staal-Sidney Crosby-Steven Stamkos

Rick Nash-Jonathan Toews- Claude Giroux

John Tavares-Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry

Logan Couture-Patrice Bergeron-Milan Lucic

Taylor Hall-Jordan Staal-Andrew Ladd

James Neal-Patrick Sharp-Jordan Eberle

Chris Kunitz-Matt Duchene-Brad Marchand

Jeff Carter-Mike Richards-Marty St.Louis

Joe Thornton

I got 24 of 25, but I had Jamie Benn making the camp and not Jeff Carter. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when they get down to deciding on the 13 forwards.

If Hall continues to perform like he did last season, and Dallas Eakins asks him to be more defensively aware he'll have a great chance of making the final roster. His speed on the big ice would be a huge bonus for Canada.

Lindy Ruff liked Eberle at the World Championships, and if Eakins uses Eberle on the PK this year, that will increase Eberle's chances of making the team. He'll have to produce like he did in 2011/2012 to get serious consideration.

I believe this crop of forwards has more depth than the 2010 team, and that will should make for some great debates when people submit their final 23 players.

PARTING SHOTS...

Here is the list of the 46 players who were invited to the summer camp for the 2010 Olympics. Steve Mason was one of five goalies invited. It's crazy how quickly things can change.

One more note regarding arbitration. Even though Gagner and the Oilers didn't go through the arbitration process, Gagner still got to see what the Oilers think about him. The player and the team are required to submit their case to the other side 48 hours before arbitration. The notion that teams and players avoid arbitration because they don't want to rip the player, isn't completely accurate, because in the case of Gagner, the past two summers he reached a deal only hours before his case, thus he was able to see how the Oilers valued him.

Based on current lineups, if the Oilers are still trying to move Ales Hemsky, Ottawa seems like the decent fit. They need another top-six forward and they have enough cap space to absorb Hemsky's $5 million cap hit. This is just me speculating. New Jersey might be a fit, but they just signed Jaromir Jagr, but the best fit based on need is Nashville. The Preds desperately need a skilled forward.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

Then I think it is easiest if you could just include the following at the end of all your posts.

PS I am just posting garbage to generate hockey talk and because I am too lazy to have thoughtful or insightful comments. I have probably just posted the opposite of whatever comment I have quoted, please do the needful

Then I think it is easiest if you could just include the following at the end of all your posts.

PS I am just posting garbage to generate hockey talk and because I am too lazy to have thoughtful or insightful comments. I have probably just posted the opposite of whatever comment I have quoted, please do the needful

It will allow new posters to properly understand you as a poster.

that's wrong then because I just want to talk about hockey not post garbage . No one else other than you have stated that I post garbage . You have your opinion and I have mine so I should be able to post whithout posting that garbage .

I take it you rarely read the replies to your 100% not believing, chain rattling posts.

No one is going to force you to put a disclaimer on your troll antics.

You should, but hey we aren't all professional bloggers like yourself.

I always do and have never heard the word garbage mentioned . How is your opinion any more valid than mine ? You call me a troll but it seems that all you do is troll my "trolling" , , maybe you should put a disclaimer on your posts saying your just a troll's troll and that if anyone wants to promote hockey talk , your going to troll them even if its for the best for this site .

What I don't understand is how St.Louis is not an automatic Olympic forward. 60,74,99 points the last three years! Lucic, not a chance should he be on the team (27,61,62 pts) and why Nash (42,59,66 pts). Neither Lucic nor Nash can cover the same amount of ice St. Louis covers. He can play all three areas of the ice better, he plays power play, shorthanded and even strength better. Plus and this is a huge plus...he puts in the effort necessary all the time. While Lucic zones in and out while taking bad penalties and Nash just zones out if is not on the power play. St. Louis is a way better all around player than both of these punks at 38 year old. Start putting his name on the jersey right now and forget these other two!

What I don't understand is how St.Louis is not an automatic Olympic forward. 60,74,99 points the last three years! Lucic, not a chance should he be on the team (27,61,62 pts) and why Nash (42,59,66 pts). Neither Lucic nor Nash can cover the same amount of ice St. Louis covers. He can play all three areas of the ice better, he plays power play, shorthanded and even strength better. Plus and this is a huge plus...he puts in the effort necessary all the time. While Lucic zones in and out while taking bad penalties and Nash just zones out if is not on the power play. St. Louis is a way better all around player than both of these punks at 38 year old. Start putting his name on the jersey right now and forget these other two!

St. Louis does not have 607,499 points nor does Nash or Lucic have that amount. Please check your figures again. They are not better than Gretzky.

He may have scored those players , but he is injury prone ! You guys just don't see this. If you make roster of team Canada and get injured you cannot replace player . Do you not fact or injury into your thoughts ???

Hrmmm, looks like I was addressing DSF not you before you interjected with your post...

Which was comprised of thoughts you later stated you don't 100% believe?

Joking? Uh, no. I am correcting his stats that he gave them. If anything I hope he is joking.

Are you sure you're not joking? Cause if you're really not, then just go back and re-read the numbers to find your mistake. If you're still not sure what's going on, let someone know and I'm sure we'll all be happy to let you know what those commas indicate.

If PK Subban makes Team Canada I will cry myself to sleep. Him being mentioned for the Norris, never mind winning it was the most tragic award thievery since Pat Roy won the Conn Smythe over Joe SAkic the last time the Avs won the cup.

We don't need a turnover machine that takes bad penalties on big ice. He has a good one timer, that's it. Give me anyone on the list other than Phaneuf on Defense. Sweden is going to have one helluva team. Can't wait for Sochi....looking at the Oilers roster so far for next season, they might be fighting for McDavid by the Olympic break.

MKE, let me spell it out for you, in each of the last three years St. Louis has had 60 pts, 74 pts and 99 pts. Lucic has had 27 pts, 61 pts and 62 over the past three years. I don't care how big Lucic is or even how big the Sochi ice surface may be. St.Louis is a far better all around player than Nash or Lucic. There are very few players in the NHL that can do what he does.